Despite what media members and government officials claim to be the worst economy since the Great Depression, NBC completely sold out -- at a record high price no less!!! -- its full complement of ads for Sunday's Super Bowl.
If the economy was really as bad as we're constantly hearing, given this somewhat low marquee matchup -- this isn't the Giants vs. the Patriots or the Cowboys vs. the Steelers -- wouldn't NBC have needed to reduce its fees to entice supposedly cash-strapped sponsors?
Not according to the Washington Post:
NBC announced it has sold all of its available ad spots for the network's Super Bowl telecast today. The network generated a record $206 million in advertising revenue for the game telecast and $261 million for the entire day, NBC announced.
NBC sold 69 ad spots for the game telecast, according to a network spokesman. Dick Ebersol, the chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics, had said at a news briefing earlier in the week that four ad spots remained unsold at that point.
Ebersol said then he hoped the remaining ad spots would be sold, but he vowed NBC would not offer potential advertisers a last-minute discount on the record $3 million that the network was receiving for a 30-second ad spot during the game telecast.
Is this REALLY a Depression if companies are willing to spend $3 million for 30 seconds?
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Media Presence?
February 1, 2009 - 14:08 ET by slickwillie2001Early this week I heard someone on either CNBC or Fox News state something like 'the number of reporters sent to cover the Super Bowl this year is down, because of the failing economy'. Sounds to me like more of a typical boss excuse, -when every rerporter on the floor asks to go to the Super Bowl.
I also heard reports that there are plenty of tickets available on the scalp market, and prices are down from the usual.
Hard to say if that's because of the economy or the not-major-market teams involved.
Tsk Tsk
February 1, 2009 - 14:54 ET by klchadwickThese advertisers are OBVIOUSLY not listening to Obama. Don't they know that NOW is NOT the time to make PROFITS?!?!?! Shame on them! LMAO. I wonder if they are listening to Mr. "Patriot" Biden and paying their taxes? These advertisers have already stimulated the economy more than the government has, so for that reason they are already being Patriotic.
Come to reality
February 1, 2009 - 17:33 ET by funkdomeDenying that there is a serious recession is absurd. It is not a myth created by the media. I wish it was, but this whole notion is beyond ignorant.
I agree funkdome
February 1, 2009 - 17:43 ET by Cool ArrowAnd those evil price gougers at NBC should be severely punished for making a profit.
Obama said now is not the time for profits, and here's NBC rubbing his cute little nose in their nasty audacity.
Shocking, I tell you! Next we'll ve hearing that NBC's parent company (GE) gives aid and comfort to IraN.
Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country - Khalil Gibran
Great
February 1, 2009 - 20:27 ET by funkdomeNot related at all to what I said, but great.
What's that?
February 1, 2009 - 17:41 ET by BO STINKSWhat's that funky smell? I love the smell of trolls in the morning (or afternoon).
"If your cause is just, if your principles are pure & if your conduct is prudent you need not fear the multitude of opposing hosts." John Witherspoon
I'm a troll?
February 1, 2009 - 20:20 ET by funkdomeWhy? Because I don't share your narrow views?
You are no different than the idiot liberal partisans, incapable of any meaningful discussion and relying and lame name calling.
Recession?
February 1, 2009 - 18:13 ET by slickwillie2001There is no question we are in a recession, imho. It is however prudent to question the ridiculous statements about 'depression' and the comparisons to 1929. We should be suspicious because we are being rushed into a massive 'solution' to a 1929-sized problem without knowing if it is anywhere near that magnitude. I feel like I'm on a used car lot and the salesman is saying 'this deal is only for today'. I doubt very much that it is comparable to 1929. The worst I foresee is a Carter-style serious recession.
Liberals push the hype for several reasons. First, they want to hide socialism, government health care, and a return to a welfare state in this stinker of a bill. Second, when the business cycle recovers as it certainly will, they can label 'The One' as another Roosevelt (God help us).
I agree
February 1, 2009 - 20:24 ET by funkdomeNo doubt that the left is thrilled to have this opporunity to push their socialist agenda.
That being said, denying that we are facing a very sever recession is just asinine.
A recession is a technical term and denying that a 3.4% contraction in GDP is not a recession is as moroninc as claiming that we are in recession when we have 2.6% GDP growth.
It is sad to see that conservative partisans are just as ignornant as liberal partisans. I expect more from our side.
Maybe not...
February 2, 2009 - 07:18 ET by VA VoterI noticed a lot of promos for upcoming NBC shows. Too many, in fact, to actually buy into the spin that XLIII was "sold out".
Me thinks a lot of skepticism is warranted.